SHORT STATURE AND CEPHALOPELVIC DISPROPORTION IN BURKINA-FASO, WEST-AFRICA

In order to reduce maternal mortality due to cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD), it is important to screen women for short stature, especially in rural areas of developing countries. We measured the height of 1733 women as they left the maternity services in Ouagadougou and recorded the type of delivery. Women less than 155 cm tall were 4.9 times more likely to have a cesarean section delivery. We propose simplified screening criteria for use by traditional birth attendants.